The Sonett II has a more complicated history, as it’s not a direct evolution of the Sonett I. Although only a handful were built, it was not forgotten for long. Racing would have been its purpose in life, had the rules not suddenly changed. Weighing some 1300 lbs, this was a brisk little barchetta good for 100 mph, nothing to sneeze at in 1955. Developed in a barn by a few enthusiasts, the Sonett had a 57.5 hp version of Saab’s new three-cylinder two-stroke. The Sonett I (above) was the next step, Saab’s first tentative foray into the world of genuine sports cars.
And after they got a taste of its ability to win some rallies, they were quickly hooked on speed. Well, they did eventually, even if it was a bit unconventional, what with its two stroke engine and front wheel drive.
Saab’s early history reads more like a fairy tale, with sixteen airplane engineers trying to figure out how to build a car ( Saab History here). But if you’ve ever spent time in one, the memory will not so readily disappear. By the time I heard its distinctive arrhythmic exhaust, turned and expressed my surprise, fumbled for and aimed my camera, the Sonett’s V4 was already revving up, ready to pull away to another obscure footnote to automotive history. The Saab Sonett’s impact on the automotive world was somewhat similar to my encounter with this one at an intersection. I later found this Sonett at the curb, and have updated the article with some of those newer photos)